EE Meyer for Binnehuis — Modular Imbuia Wall Unit, South Africa, c. 1960s–70s
A substantial three-section highly functional modular wall unit in richly toned imbuia, designed and made by EE Meyer for Binnehuis during the 1960s-70’s.
At the heart of the unit is a fitted bureau: a drop-front that opens to a writing surface with pigeonholes and compartments, turning one bay into a compact home office. Alongside it, a second drop-front reveals a drinks cabinet with a wipe-clean laminate-lined interior, practical for pouring and spills. Three further cabinets with small turned-knob hardware each serve a different purpose — one shelved, one for open storage, and one fitted with vertical dividers for vinyl records — while open display shelving runs throughout. The result is a piece of real versatility, equally at home as a living-room storage wall, a home office, or a display and entertaining system.
Pieces of this scale and completeness from EE Meyer rarely reach the market.
Its modular architecture lends a strong, adaptable presence to a room. This is a piece that defines a space.
Large-scale wall units such as this were central to mid-century interiors, reflecting a shift toward integrated living and multi-functional spaces.
Please note: the chairs shown in the photographs are for staging purposes only and are not included in the sale.
EE Meyer for Binnehuis
A true treasure that encapsulates the essence of South Africa's most sought-after mid-century furniture manufacturer. With a legacy rooted in timeless craftsmanship and iconic design, EE Meyer creations have become highly sought after. Owning an EE Meyer piece means not only acquiring a beautiful work of art but also preserving a valuable piece of South African design history.
EE Meyer was directed by Gerhardt Meyer from 1966, Meyer was the South African master of understated midcentury elegance, and his designs became synonymous with a distinctly South African interpretation of modernist furniture: sober, clean, and generous in their use of solid imbuia.
Imbuia — sometimes called African walnut — is a hardwood native to the forests of southern Brazil and historically used extensively in South African cabinetmaking. Deeply figured, warm in tone, and extraordinarily durable, it is the material that defines the EE Meyer aesthetic.
The Binnehuis furniture stores were located in Cape Town, Stellenbosch Somerset-West, Newlands, Port Elizabeth and Johannesburg and were owned by a Dutch businessman and his wife, Mr and Mrs van Ewijck, who moved between South Africa and the Netherlands. It seems they were most prolific during the 1960s.
EE Meyer for Binnehuis pieces are among the most collectible examples of South African mid-century design.
Imbuia is classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. Vintage pieces from before 1992 are legally permitted for sale.
